Design Vogue

With a whole-house remodel, the entire house is transformed. It's an exciting step that can also be a bit intimidating, given the scale of the project and the amount of planning that is required.

The payoff can be substantial, though. Remodeling the whole house may be a necessary precursor to selling the house for a profit. Or it might be done to make the house more livable for its current occupants. Whatever the reason for the whole house remodel, the prep work is the same: budgeting, planning, and selecting a contractor, among other things.

Cost to Remodel a House

The average cost of a whole-home remodel is $48,600. This average is based on costs that start at about $17,700 and range up to $79,400. In general, expect to spend about $10 to $150 per square foot to remodel your entire house.

Because more plumbing and electrical work is involved, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms tend to be more expensive to remodel than bedrooms, living rooms, and office space. Here's a breakdown of the average costs to remodel each room during a whole house remodel:

• Bathroom: $6,700 to $28,000
• Kitchen: $14,600 to $40,000
• Laundry room (utility): $6,000
• Living Room: $5,000 to $10,000
• Bedroom: $1,500 to $5,500
• Office: $5,000 or more
  

Resale Value Considerations

If you expect to live in your remodeled house for the rest of your life, resale value is less of a concern. But in all likelihood, your whole-house remodel will cycle back to another set of buyers. Some remodel projects carry the potential of more resale value than others.

Full Resale Value

Some home remodel projects return their full cost or nearly so. According to the Remodeling 2023 Cost vs. Value Report, home remodels that might return 95-percent or more of their cost include:

• Convert gas-burning (or other fossil fuel-burning) HVAC to an electric system
• Replace the garage door
• Add manufactured stone veneer to the exterior
• Replace the entry door with a steel door
• Add vinyl siding to the house

50-percent or More Resale Value

Projects that might return 50-percent or more (up to 95-percent) of their cost:

• Replace the siding with fiber-cement siding
• Minor kitchen remodeling
• Replace the windows with vinyl or wood windows
• Midrange bathroom remodeling
• Replace the roof with asphalt or composite shingles
  
• Build a wood deck

Home Remodel Order

• Find a suitable contractor
• Plan the renovation with the contractor
• Demolish current materials
• Haul away demolished materials
• Rebuild main structures like walls, support beams, and subfloors 
• Update or add plumbing, electrical, and HVAC 
• Install drywall
• Install flooring
• Install cabinets, fixtures, and appliances 
• Add décor and finish the furnishings

Planning a Whole-Home Remodel

Choose Your Design Goals

Before you start, you need a vision or a general idea of the end result. Remodeling in order to sell is vastly different from remodeling for yourself for the long term.

Remodeling for resale means keeping your finger on the pulse of current design trends so the home will appeal to buyers. This is where it's helpful to seek the opinion of designers, architects, contractors, and other renovation professionals.

Remodeling for yourself means adapting the design plan to fit your needs. You may have children on the way. You may need two home offices. You may prioritize cooking and eating areas over entertainment or common areas. The best remodel design plan is one that starts with a close examination of your needs and wants—even before discussing the home itself.

Determine Your Funding

You will need money to pay for the remodel. Likely, cash won't be your only funding option. You have a range of funding choices that you can mix to find the solution that works best for you:

• Cash: Cash is liquid, doesn't need to be paid back, and carries no interest.
• Home equity loan: Borrowing money against the equity in your house may ensure a lower interest rate since this is a secured loan. Your home is held as collateral for the loan.
• Credit cards: Credit cards have such low borrowing limits and high interest rates that using them for the entire remodel isn't practical. But you can purchase specific items with credit cards: cabinets, flooring, or fixtures.
• Home Improvement Program ("HIP") loans: HIP loans are government-subsidized loans that help rehabilitate structures or correct violations. These loans cover core remodel projects like roofing and siding. Projects like hot tubs, decks, and swimming pools are not eligible for HIP loans.

DIY vs. Hiring Pros

For most home remodeling projects, you have a choice: hire professionals, do it yourself, or combine the two. If this is a whole-house renovation, you likely will not do all the work yourself, though you can do some of the work, if you'd like.

Professionals can assist with developing a new floor plan, determining if existing walls are structural or cosmetic and if they can be removed, and how to lay out the electrical wiring in the best way for lighting, plumbing, and appliances. Even a skilled DIYer will likely call in a professional for projects like plumbing and electrical.

Consider on a case-by-case basis whether you can take on the home renovation project yourself or wish to hire professionals. Projects that intermediate- or advanced-level DIYers can take on include:

• Demolition
• Hauling
• Painting
• Tilework
• Minor electrical work
• Installing plumbing fixtures

Find and Work With the Contractor

One of the best ways to find a contractor is through someone who can recommend the contractor based on personal experience. Or you can search for contractors online and read their reviews.

The contractor does the heavy lifting of the home remodel: finding subcontractors, scheduling them, arranging materials deliveries, scheduling and meeting inspectors, obtaining and finaling the permits, and much more.

The contractor is there to work for you. So, it's best to step out of the way and let the contractor do their job. You can help the contractor by being available and by keeping the lines of communication open. When the contractor has a question, get back to them immediately.

Permits and Zoning

Building permits can take a long time to get approved. Electrical permits and permits for demolition or fences may not take more than a few days. But permits for large-scale projects that involve zoning, like building a home addition, may take many weeks or months.

One benefit of a contractor is that they will handle all the permitting for you. Permit costs are included as a line item in the final cost of the home remodel.

Safety

Asbestos and lead-based paint are the most commonly found dangerous materials when remodeling a house.

Asbestos is found in loose-fill insulation, some popcorn ceilings, some paint, house siding, pipe insulation, some vinyl floor tiles, and some tile backing and tile adhesive.

Houses built prior to 1978, when lead-based paint was outlawed, are at greater risk for containing lead-based paint than newer homes.